Identity The Inter-Personal Challenges That Americans of Japanese’s Descent Experienced during This Era

Identity The Inter-Personal Challenges That Americans of Japanese’s Descent Experienced during This Era

The history of injustice against Americans of Japanese descent during World War II is different from other ethnic groups living in America. Japanese living in America faced discrimination and prejudice; however, it is during World War II that further instigated their suffering. Americans of Japanese ancestry living, especially those in the West Coast of America, were relocated into internment camps after Japan attacked the American fleet at Pearl Harbor (Soga 23). Discrimination and prejudice are some of the challenges they faced in internment camps. The injustices Americans of Japanese descent experienced during this era and still resonates to date.

Challenges the American of Japanese descent experienced during this era

World War II events affected the lives of Americans of Japanese ancestry after the Pearl Harbor attack.  President Franklin Roosevelt issued an executive order that sent more than 120,000 Japanese into relocation centers.  After Japanese provocation, the government established ten major internment camps known as relocation centers in remote parts of the country in places like Utah, Colorado, Arkansas,  California, Arizona,  Idaho, and Wyoming to segregate Japanese and also limiting any threat to America(Soga 48). More than 120,000 Japanese lost their businesses, homes, and their belonging as they were placed in barbed wire internment camped surrounded by armed policemen (Soga 51).  Life in these centered was miserable; the Japanese experienced much hardship due to discrimination.

The hostile treatment of Americans of Japanese descent on the West Coast had some historical events. For a long time, Japanese immigrants faced racial discrimination; they were prohibited from naturalization and could not socialize with the local population (Soga 63). Additionally, laws were formulated to limit Japanese threats, with most Federal immigration laws being instigated by the elite. This revealed hostility towards Japanese, even those of Americans descent. For example, laws were formulated to discouraged land ownership by Japanese from acquiring land. Besides, certain laws were imposed to promote segregation in schools (Soga 87). However, Pearl Harbor attacked fueled discrimination that resulted in the worst injustice..

Americans of Japanese descent were placed in barbed wire internment camps for an extended period during the Second World War.  During their three years of stay in the camp, the Japanese had to become accustomed to life behind barbed wires under strict surveillance. They lost their livelihood as they found themselves in strange an environment where everything was limited(Soga 86). They were forced to attend new schools and also find inventive ways to overcome their sadness. Even though they attempted to maintain a sense of normalcy, they still experienced isolation in the public and economic life and could not live freely like another residence on the West Coast.

Fear and prejudice against Asians led to the hostile treatment of the Japanese. The public hostility towards Americans of Japanese descent accelerated after the Pearl Harbor attack.  Before the shooting, public perception and misconception about Japanese were majorly caused by stereotypes of yellow peril (Soga 29). The existing racial tensions and yellow peril was largely magnified by the public and increased suspicions of Japanese American caused tension. Most Japanese were perceived as potential spies, and anti-Japanese propaganda spread. Stereotype, fear, and economic interest contributed to prejudice, which further led to discriminatory laws that led to the unjust treatment of Americans of Japanese descent. Such resentment inflamed the public feeling causing isolation.

The anti-Japanese sentiment was propagated by those who perceived Japanese as a threat to this tired hatred among the locals. World War II and the executive order provided the impetus for discrimination through forced relocation.  With more than 120,000 Japanese Americans being relocated to camps, two-thirds of them were American citizens(Soga 36). Living in internment camps meant being ripped apart from their families. These camps were located in remote parts of the country, mostly in desert areas. The internees lived in pathetic conditions with houses that were not heated .they ate in crowded halls and live d in constant fear as armed guards watched over them in towers. Anyone who attempted t escape was killed on the spot.

The Japanese, on the other hand, tried to adapt to the life behind barbed wire. Camp residents organized themselves, establishing essential services like schools; they constructed tracks from daily physical activities, the operated shops, organized cultural events such as sumo tournaments, and tanka poetry (Soga 154). These activities were meant to eradicate interminable sadness. To improve their living conditions, the camp residents formed organizations to advocate for the Japanese American rights in the camps. However, the deep division arose among them on how they could respond to their situation.

Despite filing lawsuits to challenge the constitutionality of their relocation, the racism and institutional discrimination in government institutions became a major setback for their efforts. The Supreme Court overturns the cases that challenged the internment order. Constant pressure from civil rights advocates compelled the government to release some internees who were certified as loyal Americans; however, majorly of Japanese of America descent remain locked up in relocation camps.  Even though some politician and their advisors opposed the internment of innocent people, they feared to lose their seats, thus did not activities opposing internment orders (Soga 23).  However, by 1945, Japanese living in relocation camps was releases but still faced challenges while trying to rebuild their lives. Most of them found their homes occupied by strangers and could not evict them (Soga 188). They faced financial challenges in an attempt to start over from nothing as the government was not willing to offer any form of support.

What solution would you suggest to improve these situation challenges in local, national and global communities

Racial discrimination remains one of the significant challenges facing America to date; this is a common practice that occurs in a variety of constitutional and takes many forms.  Americans of Asian origins face discrimination in workplaces, in school, and on the street, which is often difficult to detect. Thus, there is a need to embrace diversity programs to encourage assimilation. There needs to mainstream institution include cultural attributes of ethnic minority groups. This will facilitate a diverse national identification making America a multicultural society.

Racial profiling is the main cause of persistent discrimination facing ethnic minority in America. Laws related to searches continue to infringe on individual rights; thus, there is a need to adopt policies that limit police aggression and also limit racially motivated searches. Several laws in the past have led to the disproportionate arrest of young men from ethnic minority groups.

For longtime leaders have rejected the idea of discrimination, however, not many of them are committed to ending this vice. Thus, there is a need to improve diplomatic relations between the united state and Japanese by world leaders to encourage peaceful coexistence and tolerance among citizens. All these efforts can reshape the history of Americans of Japanese ancestry and make them forget about the injustices during the World War II period.

Work Cited

Soga, Keiho. Life behind Barbed Wire: The World War II Internment Memoirs of a Hawai? i Issei. University of Hawaii Press, 2008.